'Ridiculous' comments

"Campbell Newman is no Batman and I just think that they haven't thought through this issue," she said.

"They talked about empowering councils - councils are coming up with ideas and coming up with proposals.

"We know it has an impact on communities but this is just once again a diversion from the Premier because his Government is being surrounded by the scandal which is the Member for Redcliffe, Scott Driscoll."

"You really have to put the humans before the animals, particularly in the CBD where these have become a real nuisance and a real problem to the people that live around that area," he said.

"The stench is just unbelievable, the mess on the footpath is terrible, anyone who parks their car under them will end up damaging their paint work."

Charters Towers Mayor Frank Beveridge says it is a great idea in principle.

"The idea of actually moving them out of town with the wave of a wand - I think they need a little bit more research on that one," he said.

'Gobsmacking'

Tablelands Mayor Rosa Lee Long says she is surprised Mr Newman has accused local councils of failing control bat populations.

She says her council has been trying to get permits to move bats on, only to be knocked back.

Ms Lee Long says state and federal regulation is the problem.

"I find it rather gobsmacking actually, because last year this council applied to remove those flying foxes out there at Yungaburra and they were refused," he said.

"One of the huge issues there is the noise - it's absolutely excruciating.

"We're so fed up with getting these complaints, and then the red tape and the green tape, to try and get a permit in the first place is just unbelievable."

Burdekin bats

Meanwhile, the Burdekin Shire Council in north Queensland says a park in Home Hill has become unusable because of a large flying fox colony.

The council has applied for a permit to disperse the colony of about 750 flying foxes using low impact methods, such as shining intense lights into the tree canopy.

Burdekin Mayor Bill Lowis says the council will make efforts to ensure the colony will return to its previous roosting locations.

"It was explained to us that the flying foxes like nice, clear ground on the bottom so they can see if there are any enemies or whatever that might disturb them," he said.

"We intend tidying up the old roost area and when we move them hopefully they'll go back to that roost."

Councillor Lowis says the colony only recently started inhabiting the park at Home Hill.

"They're in one of our parks which is on the main street or main highway," he said.

"It was very well attended by a lot of people that travelled through and since the flying foxes turned up there, it's unable to be used because of the noise and the smell."

Gayndah problems

Meanwhile in southern Queensland, North Burnett Mayor Don Waugh says the recent floods have not scared bats away from Gayndah, south-west of Bundaberg.

Several roosting trees were washed away, but more than 500 flying foxes remain near the Burnett River bank.

Councillor Waugh says council has a damage mitigation permit and will use it again before Easter.

"Apart from the noise, the smell and just the fact that they cause a problem in residential areas and business areas, but also there's the fear of the Hendra virus and the lyssavirus that goes with it," he said.

"The fact that young people have died now because of it brings to light the real problem."

Councillor Waugh says officers from the department are coming out soon to make sure the babies are ready to fly.

"When that happens, the permits will be issued and we will shift them out.

We'll probably do the same as we did previously, and that is use lights and noise and bird shot- we'd be there early in the morning as they were coming into land and try to prevent them from landing and hopefully they'll move out of town all together."

Tourism effect

Gayndah hotel owner Ken Mogg says a large colony of bats continues to cause problems for his business.

Mr Mogg says tourists are bypassing the North Burnett town because of the smell, noise and health fears.

He says more than 500 bats are roosting directly above where hotel rooms are.

"If you're in the motel business, having a congregation of flying foxes living within 40 metres of you is horrendous," he said.

"The smell, the noise, the actual appearance, particularly for family members where there's a concern about viruses, I would have lost in bookings about ... $125,000.

"No-one wanted to live with the bats - they are detrimental to any business and you certainly do form a dislike for them.

"We would have lost easily about ... $125,000 in room hires and motel food and beverage - roughly about $75 to $80 per night.

"You don't have to be a rocket scientist to work out how many nights we've lost, purely and simply because people didn't want to live with the bats."